U.S. patent application number 17/045581 was filed with the patent office on 2021-01-28 for method for ascertaining a variable which relates to the state of a motor vehicle battery, counter device, and motor vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to AUDI AG. The applicant listed for this patent is AUDI AG. Invention is credited to Roman STRASSER.
Application Number | 20210023962 17/045581 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005191816 |
Filed Date | 2021-01-28 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20210023962 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
STRASSER; Roman |
January 28, 2021 |
METHOD FOR ASCERTAINING A VARIABLE WHICH RELATES TO THE STATE OF A
MOTOR VEHICLE BATTERY, COUNTER DEVICE, AND MOTOR VEHICLE
Abstract
A method for ascertaining a variable which relates to the state
of a motor vehicle battery of a first motor vehicle and which
indicates a count value in order to count a previously effective
service life of the motor vehicle battery, and wherein a starting
count value is provided in order to ascertain the count value and
at least one parameter which influences the effective service life
of the motor vehicle battery is detected. An estimated value for
the influence of the at least one detected parameter on the
effective service life of the motor vehicle battery is calculated
on the basis of the at least one detected parameter, and the
starting count value is increased to a current count value on the
basis of the calculated estimated value.
Inventors: |
STRASSER; Roman;
(Gaimersheim, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
AUDI AG |
Ingolstadt |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
AUDI AG
Ingolstadt
DE
|
Family ID: |
1000005191816 |
Appl. No.: |
17/045581 |
Filed: |
March 18, 2019 |
PCT Filed: |
March 18, 2019 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2019/056708 |
371 Date: |
October 6, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 4/46 20180201; B60L
58/16 20190201; B60L 58/12 20190201 |
International
Class: |
B60L 58/16 20060101
B60L058/16; B60L 58/12 20060101 B60L058/12; H04W 4/46 20060101
H04W004/46 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 25, 2018 |
DE |
10 2018 206 414.8 |
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. A method for ascertaining a variable comprising: ascertaining a
variable related to a state of a motor vehicle battery of a first
motor vehicle wherein the variable related to the state represents
a count value for counting a previous effective service life of the
motor vehicle battery, and wherein, for ascertaining the count
value; a starting count value is provided; at least one parameter
influencing the effective service life of the motor vehicle battery
is detected; an estimated value for the influence of the at least
one detected parameter on the effective service life of the motor
vehicle battery is calculated on the basis of the at least one
detected parameter; and the starting count value is increased to a
current count value on the basis of the calculated estimated
value.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one
parameter influencing the effective service life of the motor
vehicle battery is detected repeatedly and the estimated value is
ascertained repeatedly on the basis of the detected parameter,
wherein the current count value up to that point is increased to a
new current count value, on the basis of the respectively currently
ascertained estimated value, after each determination of the
estimated value.
13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the starting count
value and the current count value, as well as particularly each new
current count value, are displayed in time sequence on a display
device of the first motor vehicle.
14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one
parameter represents at least one of the following: a temperature,
particularly an ambient temperature and/or a motor vehicle battery
temperature; an execution of a charging process in which the motor
vehicle battery is charged; a property of a charging process,
particularly a charging capacity and/or charging period; a current
state of charge of the motor vehicle battery; an operating state of
the first motor vehicle, particularly whether the first motor
vehicle is in the standby state or an active state; and a property
of an operating state of the first motor vehicle, particularly a
current capacity demand placed on the motor vehicle battery.
15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the calculation of
the estimated value takes place on the basis of the at least one
parameter according to a rule, which is updated on the basis of at
least one piece of update information which is assigned to the
first motor vehicle.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the update
information is provided by a device, which is different from the
first motor vehicle, particularly a central data processing device
or a communicative infrastructure device.
17. The method according to claim 15, wherein at least one second
motor vehicle with a second motor vehicle battery transfers data
related to the second motor vehicle battery to the device, wherein
the device evaluates the data and provides the update information
assigned to the first motor vehicle on the basis of the evaluated
data.
18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first motor
vehicle transfers data related to the motor vehicle battery of the
first motor vehicle to the device, wherein the device evaluates the
data and provides a piece of update information assigned to a third
motor vehicle on the basis of the evaluated data, on the basis of
which a second rule is updated, according to which a second count
value is calculated for the influence of at least one second
parameter on the effective service life of a third motor vehicle
battery of the third motor vehicle.
19. A counter device comprising: the counting device for counting a
previous effective service life of a motor vehicle battery of a
motor vehicle, wherein the counter device is configured to provide
a starting count value, on the basis of at least one detected
parameter influencing the effective service life of the motor
vehicle battery; to calculate an estimated value for the influence
of the at least one detected parameter on the effective service
life of the motor vehicle battery; and to increase the starting
count value to a current count value on the basis of the calculated
estimated value.
20. A motor vehicle having a counter device according to claim
19.
21. The method according to claim 12, wherein the starting count
value and the current count value, as well as particularly each new
current count value, are displayed in time sequence on a display
device of the first motor vehicle.
22. The method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one
parameter represents at least one of the following: a temperature,
particularly an ambient temperature and/or a motor vehicle battery
temperature; an execution of a charging process in which the motor
vehicle battery is charged; a property of a charging process,
particularly a charging capacity and/or charging period; a current
state of charge of the motor vehicle battery; an operating state of
the first motor vehicle, particularly whether the first motor
vehicle is in the standby state or an active state; and a property
of an operating state of the first motor vehicle, particularly a
current capacity demand placed on the motor vehicle battery.
23. The method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one
parameter represents at least one of the following: a temperature,
particularly an ambient temperature and/or a motor vehicle battery
temperature; an execution of a charging process in which the motor
vehicle battery is charged; a property of a charging process,
particularly a charging capacity and/or charging period; a current
state of charge of the motor vehicle battery; an operating state of
the first motor vehicle, particularly whether the first motor
vehicle is in the standby state or an active state; and a property
of an operating state of the first motor vehicle, particularly a
current capacity demand placed on the motor vehicle battery.
24. The method according to claim 12, wherein the calculation of
the estimated value takes place on the basis of the at least one
parameter according to a rule, which is updated on the basis of at
least one piece of update information which is assigned to the
first motor vehicle.
25. The method according to claim 13, wherein the calculation of
the estimated value takes place on the basis of the at least one
parameter according to a rule, which is updated on the basis of at
least one piece of update information which is assigned to the
first motor vehicle.
26. The method according to claim 14, wherein the calculation of
the estimated value takes place on the basis of the at least one
parameter according to a rule, which is updated on the basis of at
least one piece of update information which is assigned to the
first motor vehicle.
27. The method according to claim 11, wherein the update
information is provided by a device, which is different from the
first motor vehicle, particularly a central data processing device
or a communicative infrastructure device.
28. The method according to claim 12, wherein the update
information is provided by a device, which is different from the
first motor vehicle, particularly a central data processing device
or a communicative infrastructure device.
29. The method according to claim 13, wherein the update
information is provided by a device, which is different from the
first motor vehicle, particularly a central data processing device
or a communicative infrastructure device.
30. The method according to claim 14, wherein the update
information is provided by a device, which is different from the
first motor vehicle, particularly a central data processing device
or a communicative infrastructure device.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a method for ascertaining a
variable which relates to a state of a motor vehicle battery of a
motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a counter device as
well as a motor vehicle.
[0002] In motor vehicles, odometers are normally used for mileage
and thus also as an indicator of the use and/or wear of the motor
vehicle. In agricultural or construction machinery, this takes
place in a similar manner using an operating hour counter. With the
technology shift in the automotive industry and the transition to
battery-operated and/or electrified vehicles, the two
aforementioned measuring systems lose their significance, because,
on the one hand, the electric motors are normally maintenance-free
and also are subject to much less wear than combustion engines.
[0003] On the other hand, the "wearing part" and/or the part
determining or limiting the service life in electrified motor
vehicles is the battery, or more precisely the high-voltage
battery. The service life of the battery greatly depends, in turn,
on the most varied of parameters such as, for example, the state of
charge, temperatures, or the like. In order to inform a user of the
current state of such a motor vehicle battery, methods are known in
which a remaining service life and/or remaining lifetime of the
battery is estimated primarily based on the state data of the
battery, as is described, for example, in DE 10 2016 206 802 A1, DE
10 2016 209 884 A1, and DE 10 2004 004 280 A1. Such an estimated
remaining service life can then be displayed, for example, on a
mobile communication device of the user.
[0004] However, the indication of the remaining service life is
likewise disadvantageously not particularly significant for
describing a state of the battery. This is contingent on several
factors. On the one hand, an assumption must be made regarding the
total service life of such a battery. However, because high-voltage
battery technology is still relatively new, such assumptions cannot
currently be based on empirical values. Thus, estimates must be
determined for this which are normally very conservative, in all
probability, to the extent that the actual service life of a
battery exceeds such an estimated total service life. Furthermore,
the actual end of life of a battery is also very subjective. The
capacity of a battery is reduced over time such that the range to
be achieved with a battery charge becomes increasingly reduced, and
the battery must be correspondingly charged with increasing
frequency. However, the determination as to when this exceeds an
unacceptable level, which then correspondingly defines the end of
the service life, is subjective. A further problem is that battery
variables such as, for example, the current capacity, only
represent the current actual state of the battery, which normally
does not provide any significance regarding a future development.
Even if the chronological development of such capacity is
considered, this hardly provides any significance regarding the
future development or the remaining service life, because, in this
case, linear relationships normally cannot be presumed. For
example, if the capacity of a battery is only slightly reduced in
the first years, it cannot necessarily be presumed that the battery
still has a very long remaining lifetime available. At the end of
the lifetime, for example, the capacity of a relatively high value
can become greatly reduced in a very short time. Thus, making a
prediction of the remaining lifetime on the basis of such actual
state variables of the battery is therefore very imprecise and has
little significance. A further difficulty is that certain events
which reduce the state of health of a battery do not show their
effects immediately after they occur; rather, these effects are
sometimes only shown after a very long time. For example, similar
to how the effects of smoking on the state of health of a smoker
can only be determined after a longer period of time, the influence
of executing a quick-charge process of a battery cannot be
ascertained immediately after completion of this charging process
but instead is noticeable years later. Thus, the indication of a
remaining service life of the battery is based on innumerable
estimates and assumptions to the extent that such an indication
barely has any sort of significance for a user.
[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a method for ascertaining a variable related to a state of a motor
vehicle battery of a motor vehicle, a counter device, and a motor
vehicle, which are better-suited for describing the state of a
motor vehicle battery.
[0006] This object is achieved by means of a method for
ascertaining a variable related to a state of a motor vehicle
battery of a motor vehicle, by means of a counter device, and by
means of a motor vehicle having the features according to the
respective independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the
invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the
description, and the figures.
[0007] In a method for ascertaining a variable which relates to the
state of a motor vehicle battery of a first motor vehicle, the
variable related to the state represents a count value in order to
count a previously effective service life of the motor vehicle
battery, wherein a starting count value is provided in order to
ascertain the count value, at least one parameter which influences
the effective service life of the motor vehicle battery is
detected, an estimated value for the influence of the at least one
detected parameter on the effective service life of the motor
vehicle battery is calculated on the basis of the at least one
detected parameter, and the starting count value is increased to a
current count value on the basis of the calculated estimated
value.
[0008] Similar to an odometer, the invention advantageously enables
the provision of a count value which reflects the previous
effective service life of the motor vehicle battery, and thus the
degree of wear and/or the state of health of the battery. Thus, the
previous effective service life should not be understood as the
actual service life of the battery as a time span starting from its
commissioning, but rather a numerical value which indicates and/or
counts how many charges the battery has already undergone. Thus,
the starting count value can therefore represent zero, for example,
upon commissioning of the battery and be correspondingly increased
with each occurring charge of the battery and/or with occurring
events which lead to a certain impact on the battery immediately or
even after a longer period of time. The more or the stronger
charges a battery is thus subjected to over the course of time, the
greater the increments or the quicker the counter counts up. The
counter scale has no upper limit, as is also the case, for example,
with odometers. Thus, there is no estimate regarding a remaining
service life or the like provided in this case. Such a count value
thus reflects the current state of a battery significantly more
objectively. Such a count value thus also enables a significantly
more objective comparison between various batteries. This is
particularly essential, for example, when selling or buying a used
vehicle. Thus, the invention enables the provision of a count value
which provides a significantly more meaningful and more objective
indicator of the use and/or the wear or the state of health, i.e.
the previous effective service life of the motor vehicle
battery.
[0009] Preferably, the at least one parameter influencing the
effective service life of the motor vehicle battery is detected
repeatedly and the estimated value is ascertained repeatedly on the
basis of the detected parameter, wherein the current count value up
to that point is increased to a new current count value, on the
basis of the respectively currently determined estimated value,
after each determination of the estimated value. Moreover, not just
one single parameter but also several parameters influencing the
effective service life of the motor vehicle battery can be detected
and used to determine the described estimated value. Due to the
parameters, thus various influencing variables which impact the
wear and/or the state of health of the motor vehicle battery are
considered, wherein the degree of this influence is quantified by
the estimated value. The stronger the battery is thus probably or
likely or approximately impacted by such an influencing variable,
which is determined via the detected parameter, the greater the
estimated value and the more the current count value is increased
to a new current count value. The motor vehicle can thus collect
and store, for example, all potential data impacting the motor
vehicle battery, and then calculate the estimated value, at
repeated intervals or even event-triggered, on the basis of this
detected data and thus increase the count value. However, these
calculations do not necessarily have to take place in the vehicle
itself but instead can be obtained, for example, externally, for
example transferred from a central data processing device or an
internet server or backend server, or an infrastructure
component.
[0010] In general, the data and/or parameters collected by the
motor vehicle and influencing the effective service life of the
motor vehicle battery can thus also be transferred to a device
outside of the motor vehicle which evaluates these data and
ascertains the estimated value based on said data. This estimated
value can then be transferred to the motor vehicle, which then
increases correspondingly the current value to the new current
value according to the ascertained estimated value.
[0011] It is especially advantageous in this case when the starting
count value and the current count value, as well as particularly
each new current count value, are displayed in time sequence on a
display device of the first motor vehicle. A counter is thus
thereby provided in the motor vehicle which can always display the
currently valid count value. The respectively current count value
in this case does not have to be continually displayed but can also
be displayed only when needed, for example due to an action of the
user. It is especially advantageous in this case that the
respectively current count value is displayed on a display device
of the motor vehicle and is thus directly coupled to the motor
vehicle itself. This provides significantly greater tampering
protection as compared to, for example, the count value only being
displayed on a smart phone or another mobile communication device.
This is especially therefore relevant, because the count value, and
generally the current state of health of the battery which is
represented by the count value, significantly influences the value
of an electrified motor vehicle, the same as the current mileage
significantly impacts the value of conventional, non-electrified
motor vehicles.
[0012] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least
one parameter represents at least one of the following: a
temperature, particularly an ambient temperature and/or a motor
vehicle battery temperature, an execution of a charging process in
which the motor vehicle battery is charged, a property of a
charging process, particularly a charging capacity and/or charging
period, a current state of charge of the motor vehicle battery, an
operating state of the first motor vehicle, particularly whether
the first motor vehicle is in the standby state or an active state,
and/or a property of an operating state of the first motor vehicle,
particularly a current capacity demand placed on the motor vehicle
battery. The consideration of these parameters is particularly
advantageous in the determination of the estimated value, because
specifically these parameters greatly influence the service life of
the motor vehicle battery. In order to thus calculate the estimated
value which estimates the previous effective service life of the
battery, environmental conditions can be considered, such as
ambient temperature, temperature of the motor vehicle battery, or
other component temperatures, the operation of the battery as such,
i.e. the load spectrum thereof for example, the charging processes
thereof, and properties of such charging processes, such as
capacity and duration, the state of charge (SOC), etc. In the
future, discharging processes will be added to the charging
processes, due to the bidirectional charging, which further
likewise influence the service life and/or the effective service
life and/or the state of health of the battery and thus are
likewise considered as further parameters. Longer periods of time
when the motor vehicle is not in use and/or a longer period of
inactivity of the battery, particularly with a fully discharged or
fully charged battery, also has disadvantageous effects on the
service life, which can thus also be considered another parameter.
These aforementioned events and variables can be detected and
documented repeatedly or continually such as, for example, the
temperature and the state of charge of the motor vehicle battery,
as well as the capacity demand on the battery, which is
significantly determined by the manner of driving, e.g. sporty or
cautiously. However, the events can also be detected and documented
upon the occurrence thereof such as, for example, charging
processes and thus related parameters such as duration and charging
capacity. These influencing variables and influencing events can be
stored, and the estimated value can be ascertained, for example, at
regular time intervals on the basis of the data collected.
Alternatively or additionally, the estimated value can also be
updated directly after the occurrence of certain events such as,
for example, after charging of the battery. On the basis of these
parameters, a comprehensive description of the state of health and
thus of the previous effective service life is possible.
[0013] In a further especially advantageous embodiment of the
invention, the calculation of the estimated value takes place on
the basis of the at least one parameter according to a rule, which
is updated on the basis of at least one piece of update information
which is assigned to the first motor vehicle. The rule, according
to which the estimated value is calculated, may be a mathematical
formula, a tabular assignment, a mathematical model, a
characteristic curve, a mathematical algorithm, or the like. This
rule can be based on previously obtained knowledge, particularly
knowledge as to the manner in which the aforementioned parameters
influence the state of health of the battery. Alternatively or
additionally, for example when there is not yet sufficient
knowledge regarding an influencing variable, corresponding
estimates of this rule can be established. As previously described,
the effects of some events or influencing variables on the health
of the battery are not immediately apparent but instead are only
seen, for example, after a longer period of time. Specifically with
such influencing factors, there is often not enough knowledge to
precisely describe this influence. Thus, it is especially
advantageous, as is provided according to this exemplary embodiment
of the invention, that the rule can be updated on the basis of a
piece of update information. For example, if new knowledge is
obtained, the rule, according to which the estimated value is
determined, can also be advantageously updated and adapted to the
new findings. For example, if it is determined over the course of
time that quick-charge processes are not impacting the state of
health of the battery as strongly as assumed at the start, the rule
can also correspondingly be adapted in that the negative influence
of such a quick-charge process is given less weighting as the at
least one parameter in the calculation of the estimated value. It
can also be determined, for example, over the course of time that
there are other significant influencing factors impacting the
effect of service life of the battery which have not even been
mentioned, for example, in the listing of the above parameters.
This can then also be advantageously considered in the updating of
the rule which is then updated, for example, such that then further
parameters additionally influencing the service life of the battery
are considered in the rule, which can then likewise be detected
additionally by the motor vehicle. Thus, the calculation of the
estimated value and thus the method of counting of the service life
counter can advantageously then be updated over the course of time
and adapted to newly obtained findings.
[0014] It is further advantageous in this case when the update
information is provided by a device, which is different from the
first motor vehicle, particularly is essentially different from a
motor vehicle, particularly a central data processing device, an
internet server, a backend server, or a communicative
infrastructure device, for example a charging station, or
combinations thereof. This can also represent the particular device
which can also optionally take over the calculation of the
estimated value as previously mentioned. Thus, if this device is
also provided for calculating the estimated value, this device can
thusly regularly update the rule for calculating the estimated
value according to the update information assigned to the motor
vehicle such that the calculation of the estimated value, which is
then subsequently transferred to the first motor vehicle, is always
based on the latest information. If the calculation of the
estimated value is implemented by the motor vehicle itself, this
device external to the vehicle can regularly transmit the update
information, or optionally triggered by an event, e.g. upon a
request from the first motor vehicle, to said first motor vehicle,
which then accordingly updates the calculation rule.
[0015] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, at
least one second motor vehicle with a second motor vehicle battery
transfers data related to the second motor vehicle battery to the
device, wherein the device evaluates the data and provides the
update information assigned to the first motor vehicle on the basis
of the evaluated data. Thus, the knowledge obtained from other
motor vehicles can be advantageously used collectively in order to
provide the update information. These data collected by the other
second motor vehicles can likewise represent the aforementioned
parameters which influence the effective service life of the motor
vehicle battery as well as other variables, for example battery
state variables, e.g. the battery capacity. It is additionally
advantageous in this case when these data are additionally selected
according to battery type, because the previously described
parameters can also affect different battery types in different
ways, e.g. batteries of different manufacturers and/or with
different cell chemistry, or the like. Thus, the data obtained from
other motor vehicles can be used in order to make the calculation
of the estimated value for the first motor vehicle even more
relevant. Thus, a type of forecast can thus advantageously then be
additionally created for the first vehicle, for example for the
state of health of the first motor vehicle battery in the future,
or also in order to represent the future effects of currently
detected influencing variables in a more relevant manner based on
the estimated value using the vehicles already on the market with
corresponding motor vehicle batteries and the states of health
thereof and/or the counter statuses thereof. The first motor
vehicle can thus also transfer the at least one parameter to this
external device according to the vehicle's obtained data, and said
device can then provide update information based thereupon for
other motor vehicles.
[0016] Accordingly, it is a further advantageous embodiment of the
invention when the first motor vehicle transfers data related to
the motor vehicle battery of the first motor vehicle to the device,
wherein the device evaluates the data and provides a piece of
update information assigned to a third motor vehicle on the basis
of the evaluated data, on the basis of which a second rule is
updated, according to which a second count value is calculated for
the influence of at least one second parameter on the effective
service life of a third motor vehicle battery of the third motor
vehicle. State data of the respective batteries, as well as, for
example, also the respective counter states, and the variables
influencing the effective service life of a battery, i.e. the
detected parameters, can also be transferred from the existing
vehicles to a server, for example, wirelessly or wired via radio
communication, for example during charging at a charging point.
These data are evaluated there and a characteristic piece of update
information or a characteristic forecast is calculated for each
individual vehicle. Thus, the rule, according to which the
estimated value is calculated, regarding the number of vehicles and
the operation thereof is continually improved and can thus, in
turn, improve the calculation of the corresponding count value.
[0017] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a counter device
for counting a previous effective service life of a motor vehicle
battery of a motor vehicle, wherein the counter device is
configured to provide a starting count value, on the basis of at
least one detected parameter influencing the effective service life
of the motor vehicle battery, to calculate an estimated value for
the influence of the at least one detected parameter on the
effective service life of the motor vehicle battery, and to
increase the starting count value to a current count value on the
basis of the calculated estimated value.
[0018] The advantages listed for the method according to the
invention and its embodiments apply in a similar manner to the
counter device according to the invention. Moreover, the method
steps described in connection with the method according to the
invention and its embodiments enable the further development of the
counter device according to the invention by means of further
objective features.
[0019] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a motor vehicle
with a counter device according to the invention or one of its
embodiments. The counter device may additionally comprise as well a
display device of the motor vehicle, on which the current count
value can be displayed. The motor vehicle in this case is
preferably designed as an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle with
an electric motor and has a high-voltage battery, for example, as
the motor vehicle battery.
[0020] Moreover, the invention may also comprise a system from a
motor vehicle and a device external to the vehicle, which is
configured for implementing the method according to the invention
or one of its embodiments. In this case, as previously described,
particularly the calculation steps for calculating the estimated
value can be carried out by the device external to the vehicle,
and/or the provision of update information, as well as generally
the collecting of battery data and parameters detected by other
motor vehicles.
[0021] The invention also comprises the combinations of the
features of the described embodiments.
[0022] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in the
following. The following is shown:
[0023] FIG. 1 a flowchart for explaining a method for ascertaining
a count value for counting a previous effective service life of a
motor vehicle battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the
invention; and
[0024] FIG. 2 a schematic representation of a system with a motor
vehicle, a device external to the vehicle for providing a count
value for counting the previous effective service life of a motor
vehicle battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the
invention.
[0025] The exemplary embodiments explained in the following refer
to preferred embodiments of the invention. With the exemplary
embodiments, the described components of the embodiments represent
individual features of the invention that are to be considered
independently of one another, each of which also further develop
the invention independently of one another and thus also are to be
considered individually or in a combination that is different than
the one shown as a component of the invention. Furthermore, the
described embodiments can also be supplemented through further
described features of the invention.
[0026] The same reference numerals refer to equivalent features and
functions in the figures.
[0027] FIG. 1 shows a flowchart for explaining a method for
providing a count value Z for counting a previous effective service
life of a motor vehicle battery of a motor vehicle. The method
starts in this case in step S10, in which, during a first
commissioning of a motor vehicle battery which is particularly
designed as a high-voltage battery, a starting count value Z0 is
provided which is, for example, equal to zero. Furthermore, at
least one parameter P influencing the effective service life of the
motor vehicle battery is detected in step S12. Thus, the current
battery temperature, for example, is detected, an ambient
temperature, temperatures of other components of the motor vehicle
or of the battery, the current state of charge of the battery, a
current operating parameter, a load spectrum, a charging process,
the charging capacity, and charging period, or the like. Based on
this one or the several detected parameters P, an estimated value S
is calculated, furthermore, in step S16, said estimated value
estimating the influence of the one or the several detected
parameters P on the effective service life of the motor vehicle
battery. This calculation can take place, for example, in the motor
vehicle itself or, for example, on a backend server as well. In the
latter case, the input variables, i.e. the detected parameters P in
step S14, are transferred from the motor vehicle to said server
before the calculation in step S16. After the calculation in step
S16, the estimated value S is then transferred to the motor vehicle
in step S18. Finally, the starting count value Z0 is then increased
to a current count value Z in step S20 on the basis of the
calculated estimated value S. Or in general, the estimated value S
is added to a count value Zi, which is current up to that point,
and thereby a new current count value Zi+1 is provided.
Subsequently, the method repeats itself starting from step S12. The
parameters P influencing the service life and other influencing
variables are thus continually detected and monitored and stored
and evaluated in order to ascertain the estimated value S
therefrom, on the basis of which the count value Z is then
accordingly regularly and/or repeatedly increased.
[0028] The count value as well as each updated count value can then
be accordingly shown on a display device in the motor vehicle.
Thus, a significant indicator is advantageously provided of the use
and/or the wear of an electrified vehicle. In order to make this
indicator even more significant and/or more precise, information is
used, which is provided by other vehicles with corresponding
high-voltage batteries, which is then explained by means of FIG.
2.
[0029] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a system 10 with
a motor vehicle 12 and a central data processing device, which is
formed as a backend server 14 according to an exemplary embodiment
of the invention. The motor vehicle 12 has a high-voltage battery
15 and a control unit 16, which can take over, at least partially,
the functionalities of a counter device, described as follows. In
addition, the motor vehicle 12 also has a display device 18, on
which the current count value Z can then be displayed. The motor
vehicle 12 can particularly be designed to implement the method
described in FIG. 1. Furthermore, the motor vehicle 12 is designed
for wireless and/or wired communication with a device external to
the vehicle. In this example, the motor vehicle 12 is formed with
the backend server 14 for wireless communication, for example via
radio communication. The influencing variables collected and
detected by the motor vehicle 12, the current count value Z, as
well as other battery parameters can be transferred to this server
14 via this communication. The data transferred to the server 14
are indicated by D here. Other motor vehicles 20, which likewise
are formed as electrified motor vehicles 20 with a corresponding
high-voltage battery, also transmit corresponding data D to the
server 14. The server 14 collects this battery-related data D and
evaluates the data, particularly with respect to which influencing
variables more or less influence, in which manner, the service life
of a particular motor vehicle battery of a particular motor
vehicle. This type of obtained knowledge can then be transferred to
the corresponding vehicle 12 and/or 20 for each individual vehicle
12 and/or 20 as a corresponding piece of update information A. The
respective vehicles 12 and/or 20 can then advantageously adapt the
calculation rule for calculating the estimated value S on the basis
of this transmitted update information A. Subsequent to this, there
is then a calculation of the estimated value S as well as an update
of the count value Z, as described in FIG. 1 but with an updated
calculation rule. As the number of motor vehicles increases and the
time increases, the previous effective service life of a respective
high-voltage battery 15 can also be described with increasing
precision and applicability by means of this advantageous method
and/or system 10.
[0030] As a whole, a user of an electrified vehicle can thus be
provided a significant indicator of the wear of the motor vehicle
by means of the invention.
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